Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Valenzuela and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Valenzuela: $552 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Valenzuela, Philippines
Medellin, Colombia
Valenzuela
🇵🇭 Philippines
$552
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Valenzuela and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Valenzuela and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $552 per month in Valenzuela vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Valenzuela $552
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,208 per month in Valenzuela vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Valenzuela $1,208
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Valenzuela vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Valenzuela $1,864
  • Medellin $3,186

Valenzuela is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Valenzuela sits 59% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ₱247
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-52.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.61 ₱1,058
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-64.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.74 ₱174
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-71.16%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ₱128
$3.01 COP 9,735
-33.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₱35.46
$1.80 COP 5,809
-68.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱19.44
$1.41 COP 4,561
-78.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.24 ₱79.0
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-61.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱98.2
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-73.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ₱105
$1.51 COP 4,876
9.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 ₱69.2
$2.38 COP 7,678
-54.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₱63.3
$1.77 COP 5,720
-44.07%
Eggs
$2.05 ₱131
$2.89 COP 9,333
-29.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.97 ₱316
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-51.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ₱209
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-66.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.78 ₱432
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-51.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 ₱140
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-44.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 ₱101
$1.55 COP 5,012
1.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 ₱147
$2.18 COP 7,048
5.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ₱67.1
$2.18 COP 7,051
-51.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 ₱110
$1.96 COP 6,337
-12.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 ₱109
$1.59 COP 5,132
6.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ₱40.99
$1.15 COP 3,699
-44.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₱30.60
$1.24 COP 4,014
-61.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62 ₱167
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-33.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.59 ₱484
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-44.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₱59.7
$1.66 COP 5,359
-43.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₱124
$2.26 COP 7,291
-14.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.71
$1.17 COP 3,771
-80.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.23 ₱843
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-82.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 ₱40.80
$1.27 COP 4,094
-49.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.37
$2.05 COP 6,612
-89.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 ₱121
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-77.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₱75.9
$1.35 COP 4,349
-11.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-38.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-44.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 ₱8,776
$170 COP 547.8K
-18.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.92 ₱1,014
$13.55 COP 43.8K
17.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.98 ₱1,973
$28.07 COP 90.6K
10.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.07 ₱1,215
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-56.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.41 ₱408
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-7.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$130 ₱8,270
$797 COP 2.6M
-83.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,357 ₱468.6K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-19.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.67 ₱1,826
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-66.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.33 ₱1,231
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-66.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 ₱4,414
$135 COP 435.8K
-48.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.9 ₱3,435
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-44.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$642 COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$997 ₱63.5K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-50.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$770 ₱49.1K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-23.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valenzuela
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$578 ₱36.8K
$657 COP 2.1M
-12.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
10.94
-38.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Valenzuela: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valenzuela
$185
Medellin
$211 14.4% $27
Groceries & Markets
Valenzuela
$167
Medellin
$297 78% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Valenzuela
$77
Medellin
$169 119% $92
Eating Out
Valenzuela
$76
Medellin
$170 123% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Valenzuela
$32
Medellin
$58 80.4% $26
Getting Around
Valenzuela
$16
Medellin
$94 490% $78
Accommodation & Living
Valenzuela
- *
Medellin
$642

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 14% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Valenzuela versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $297 – making Valenzuela the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Valenzuela
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
15:38 3:38 PM
02:38 2:38 AM
13 h behind Valenzuela
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
714,978
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.69 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.08 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Valenzuela Medellin 17,050 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Valenzuela
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Valenzuela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valenzuela cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 197%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $829 per month in Valenzuela and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Valenzuela or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Valenzuela and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Valenzuela and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $552 in Valenzuela and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Valenzuela about 66% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Valenzuela or in Medellin?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Valenzuela, where all-in costs run around $552, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Valenzuela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Valenzuela or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $552 in Valenzuela to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Valenzuela. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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